Box or carton



May 18, 1954' D. LEVKOFF BOX OR CARTON Filed Sept. 25 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig. E.

INVENTOR.

BY fez/1W 752"? allergy May 18, 1954 LEVKOFF 2,678,766

BOX 0R CARTON Filed Sept. 25, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NV EN TOR.

dliorr zg Patented May 18, 1954 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to boxes or cartons, and particularly to a. tray-like form of container of the type shown in my Patent No. 2,342,551.

Boxes or trays of this character are generally used for containing vegetables, such as tomatoes, fruit, baked goods, candy and similar products, and it is therefore essential that a container of this kind shall be one which can be collapsed or knocked down" and shipped and stored in fiattened condition and can be speedily erected by the user, either by machine or hand operation. It is also desirable that the container, when erected, shall be strong and rigid, and especially at the end walls to afford a maximum of protection for the contents.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved container of this character in which the requirements above pointed out shall be attained; in which a double end wall of exceptional strength and rigidity is 3 provided in the carton, yet without complicating the erection of the carton or adding materially to the stock required in the carton blank for the formation of the carton.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a carton of this kind with a double end-wall construction which will add materially to the strength and rigidity of the carton, and especially at the ends thereof, which end-wall construction will not, interfere with the collapsing of the carton to a flat condition for shipment and storage, and which will not complicate the setting up or erection of the carton, but on the other hand will greatly simplify the carton erection.

These and other objects are attained by the invention, a more particular description of which will hereinafter appear and be set forth in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein an illustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed, Fig. l is a face view of the blank from which the carton is produced:

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the carton in its flattened or collapsed condition;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through one of the end walls of the carton;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view through one of the end walls of the carton, the view being taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the carton in its erected or set-up position with the cover open;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one end of the carton, showing how one of the double-walled end walls is formed and how it is brought into position. and

' dicated at 35.

Fig. '7 is a view of one end of the carton, showing how the end walls each fold outwardly on a vertical line when the carton is flattened or collapsed.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, and wherein is shown the singlepiece cardboard blank from which the carton is formed, I indicates the bottom of the carton. Said bottom is provided with a central, longitudinally-extending fold or score line 2 on which the bottom is folded when the carton is flattened or collapsed to the position shown in Fig. 2. The bottom is notched at its opposite nds as in- The longitudinal, parallel score lines 3 and 4 are those on which the blank is folded to result in the vertical front wall 5 and the rear wall 6. An integral upward extension of the rear wall 6 forms the cover I, provided with a window opening 8 adapted to be covered by a sheet 9 of cellophane or other transparent material through which the contents of the carton will be visible. The cover is provided with a tuck-in closure flap I0, and said cover is adapted to be folded down to its closed position, by folding it on the score lines indicated at I I and I2.

Each end of the carton is closed by an end wall structure, which includes an outer wall or panel I3 and it will be noted that each of these outer panels I3 is a lateral integral extension of the rear wall 6. Said outer end wall panel I3 is provided with a. central vertical score line I4, and its side edges are defined by the parallel score lines I5 and I6. Extending beyond the score line I5 is an attaching flap I! which is adapted to be adhesively or otherwise secured to the outer face of the front wall 5 at one of the ends thereof, as seen in Figs. 2, 5 and '7. Extending downwardly and integrally from the lower end of the outer end wall panel I3 beyond a transverse score line 30, is the end-wall locking flap I8 provided with the central score line I9 constituting a continuation of the central score line I4 of the outer end wall panel I3. The opposite side edges of the locking flap I8 are tabbed as indicated at 20, or otherwise so shaped as to enter into locking engagement with slits provided on the score lines 3 and 4 at the juncture of the front and rear walls 5 and 6 with the bottom I and adjacent to the opposite ends of the bottom I.

The inner end wall panel is shown at 22 and in the blank, this inner end wall panel forms an upward integral extension of the outer end wall panel I3. Said inner end wall panel 22 is provided with a central score line 23 constituting a continuation of the score lines I4 and I9, and is also provided with the three transverse score lines indicated respectively at 24, 25 and 28. The strip of material 21 located between the score lines 24 and 25, constitutes a ledge at the top of the end wall and when in its horizontal position it acts to support the end of the cover at each end of the carton. The tab portion 28, located beyond the score line 28 constitutes a securing flap which holds the end wall in its double-walled or box-like shape clearly seen in Figs. 3, and 6, by being adhesively attached to the face of the locking flap i8. Each of the tab portions 28 is notched as indicated at 34.

The carton is produced by folding the end wall structures on the transverse score lines 30, 24, 25 and 26 in a manner to form the double-walled or box-like structure seen in Fig. 6, at each end of the box. The securing tab 28 is adhesively or otherwise attached to the upper face of the locking flap i8, thus holding the parts in the boxlike shape shown, wherein each end of the box has an outer end wall panel I3 and an inner end wall panel 22 extending substantially parallel to it but spaced from it for a distance corresponding substantially to the width of the ledge 21 at the top of each end wall structure.

The blank, when folded on the vertical score lines [5 and ID, as well as on the longitudinal score lines 2, 3 and 4, will then have the securing flaps I1 adhesively or otherwise attached to the front of the front wall 5 adjacent to its opposite ends and this completes the construction of the carton. When the carton is produced as above described, it will be observed that the same is provided with a continuous longitudinally extending score line extending down its center, such line consisting of the scorings 23, i4, I9 and 2. It will be found that a ready collapsing or knock-down action can be imparted to the carton by folding the carton down the center on these score lines. When this is done, it will be noted that the bottom I will fold upwardly on the line 2 as indicated in Fig. 6, while the end wall structures will fold outwardly on the score lines l4, l9 and 23. When this outward folding movement of the end walls occurs, the ledge 21 assumes a vertical position while the locking flap l8 swings upwardly on its fold line 30 to lie flatly against the inner face of the inner wall 22 and it will also fold on its center line I! in company with the folding of the inner and outer end wall panels which fold on their respective score lines 23 and I4. to facilitate the folding of the several parts on the fold or score lines slittings 3|, 32 can be provided if necessary. The slittings 3| also serve to lend resiliency to the inner end wall panels to thus provide a cushioning effect and permit of slight distortion of the inner end wall panel under pressure of carton contents. The notches 34 in the tabs 28, having their apices on the line of the scoring 23, readily permit the folding of the entire wall structure on its vertical center line as above described.

In Fig. 2 is shown the manner in which the carton appears when in its collapsed or flattened condition and it is apparent that the same, while in this condition, may be easily shipped and stored.

When it is desired to set up or erect the carton, this is very easily done by applying manual or mechanical pressure on the fold lines I4 while simultaneously applying a downward pressure on the fold line 25 defining the then upper edge of the ledge 21, as seen in Fig. 2. This inward and downward pressure, applied simultaneously upon the opposite end wall structures of the car- '4 ton will cause the ledges 21 to fold down to operative /horizontal position, and the locking flaps 18 to also fold down flatly against the upper face of the bottom I to cause the tabs 20 on said locking flaps to engage with the slits 2| as shown in Fig. 4. This will'bring the end wall structures into their operative positions and result in a rigid locked, double-wall end at each end of the carton.

The inner end wall panel, at each end of the carton, provides a cushioning effect, this being aided by the slit 3|, so that this wall panel can readily resiliently adjust itself to the irregular shape of articles placed in the carton without applying undue pressure on such articles.

While I have herein shown one embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that various modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, while the locking flaps l8 are shown as be-- ing provided with tabbed edges for engagement with slits at the base of the front and side walls, a frictional engagement of the edges of these tabs with the front and rear walls may be employed rather than the slit and tab connection disclosed. I have also herein shown the inner end wall panel tabs 28 connected to the locking flaps [8 by adhesive. This connection can possibly be dispensed with if the tabs 28 are arranged to frictionally engage the front and rear walls, or else engage with slits located at the base of these walls in the manner in which the tabbed portions 20 on the locking flaps i8 engage the slits 2|. Also while I have shown the carton as provided with an integral cover, it is apparent that a separate cover may be used, or the cover may be omitted and a cellophane or other wrapping used to enclose the carton or at least the upper portion thereof.

These and other modifications are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention and the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. In a carton, a body having a front wall, a rear wall and a bottom integrally connecting said front and rear walls, an end wall structure including an outer panel forming an integral extension of the rear wall, said outer panel having a flap secured to the front wall said end wall structure also including an inner panel, the inner and outer panels being integrally joined at the top by a horizontal ledge holding the inner and outer panels in spaced relationship at the top, the outer panel being provided with an integral inturned locking flap extending into the box body below the lower end of the inner panel, the lower end of the inner panel being secured to said locking flap to thereby hold said lower end of the inner panel in predetermined spaced relation to the outer panel, cooperating means on the edges of the locking flap and the walls for holding said flap in locked position to maintain the end wall structure in place, the bottom, the locking flap, the inner and outer panels and the ledge being each provided with a central fold line on which these elements are foldable when said locking means is released, said elements when folded upon said central fold line assuming a position in which the ledge is elevated to vertical position and the inner panel and outer panel come into facial contact and the locking flap folds upwardly against the inner panel, while the bottom folds upwardly within the carton.

2. In a carton, a rear wall and a front wall, a bottom integrally connecting said front and rear walls an end wall structure having an outer panel forming an integral extension of the rear wall, a flap extending from an edge of said panel for adhesive attachment to the front wall, an inner panel connected at the top to the top of the outer panel by a horizontal ledge, said inner panel being provided at its lower end with a securing flap, the outer panel being provided at its lower end with a locking flap extending inwardly within the carton on top of the bottom thereof, the securing flap being fastened to the upper face of the locking flap between the inner and outer panels, the locking flap having a free-end portion extending inwardly beyond the inner panel, said free end portion of the flap having tabbed edges for locking engagement with slits formed at the junction of the front and rear walls and bottom to thereby hold said locking flap horizontally and maintain the inner and outer panels vertically and their connecting ledge horizontally, and scoring extending centrally of the bottom, the inner and outer panels, the ledge and the locking flap for enabling all of said elements to be folded upon themselves and the carton body collapsed when the tabbed edges of the locking flap are freed from the slits.

3. In a carton, a body having a front wall, a rear wall and a bottom integrally connecting said front wall and rear wall, an end wall structure including an outer panel forming an integral extension of the rear wall, said end wall structure also including an inner panel, the inner and outer panels being integrally joined at the top by a horizontal ledge holding the inner and outer panels in spaced relationship at the top. the outer panel being provided at its lower end with an inturned locking flap extending below the lower end of the inner panel and disposed flatwisely against the bottom, the lower end of the inner panel being formed with a tab extended in a direction toward the outer panel and overlying the locking flap and holding the inner and outer panels in spaced relation at their lower ends, said tab being adhesively secured to the upper face of the locking flap at a point between the inner and outer panels, means for engaging with the edges of the locking flap to thereby hold the end wall structure in operative position at the end of the carton, the bottom, the locking flap, the inner and outer panels and the ledge being each provided with a central fold line on which all of these elements can be folded when the looking flap is in an unlocked position to thereby brin the locking flap flatwisely against the inner wall and to collapse the inner and outer panels flatly against each other andto flatten the ledge against the outer panel.

References Cited in the flle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 723,830 Claxton Mar. 31, 1903 1,478,336 Hunt Dec. 18, 1923 2,270,343 Rlngler Jan. 20, 1942 2,350,262 Van Rosen May 30, 1944 2,379,665 Stone July 3, 1945 2,430,755 Bergstein Nov. 11, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 541,031 Great Britain 1941 

